gaunt·let¹ / ˈgôntlit; ˈgänt-/ • n. a stout glove with a long loose wrist. ∎ hist. an armored glove, as worn by a medieval knight. ∎  the part of a glove covering the wrist.PHRASES: take up (or throw down) the gauntlet accept (or issue) a challenge.gaunt·let² (also gant·let / ˈgantlit; ˈgônt-/ ) • n. (in phrase run the gauntlet) 1. go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd, place, or experience in order to reach a goal: they had to run the gauntlet of television cameras.2. hist. undergo the military punishment of receiving blows while running between two rows of men with sticks.

gauntlet2 in phr. run the gauntlet. XVII. alt., by assim. to prec., of †gantlope (XVII–XIX) — Sw. gatlopp, f. gata lane, GATE2 + lopp course (see LEAP); a term introduced through the Thirty Years War.

gauntlet2 undergo the former military punishment of receiving blows while running between two rows of men with sticks; chiefly in run the gauntlet. The word comes (in the mid 17th century) from an alteration of Swedish gatlopp, from gata ‘lane’ + lopp ‘course’, by association with gauntlet1.

gauntlet1 metal-plated glove of medieval armour. XV. — (O)F. gantelet, dim. of gant glove :- Gmc. *want-, extant only in ON. vǫttr (:- *wantuz) glove; see -LET.

gauntlet1 throw down the gauntlet issue a challenge, from the medieval custom of issuing a challenge by throwing one's gauntlet, or armoured glove, to the ground; whoever picked it up (take up the gauntlet) was deemed to have accepted the challenge.